Hilda’s hold forum for the future
St Hilda’s could soon be going co-educational
The ongoing question of the future of St Hilda’s was formally discussed in a JCR forum last Monday, prior to a JCR referendum this Thursday. While ultimately the JCR referendum may hold little sway over the Governing Body’s final decision, students were still keen to express their views. The debate began with argument in favour of transforming going co-ed. The college was described as lacking in a healthy atmosphere where eating disorders are apparently rife.
“It can be really difficult in an all-girl college with so much dieting… having guys around would make us generally less fussy,” Elspeth Rowell argued. Many students said male interaction in tutorials would benefit their work and prepare them for the real world. Rachel Agnew seconded this view with focus on the moral principles of a single-sex college. “Isn’t it wrong to discriminate against women? It is equally wrong to discriminate against men just because they have a penis.
“ However, Anna Furness and Olivia Bailey then put forward an equally vehement argument for maintaining St Hilda’s unique single-sex status. They argued the negative perception of the college is not a direct result of its female environment. “We just don’t do so well academically. We need to be looking at how we can raise our academic status.
Bailey concluded her speechwith defiant words: “We are Hildabeasts, we are Hildababes, we are Hildagirls!” Although some students have expressed discontent over the college’s management of the situation, St Hilda’s Principal Lady English said, “The Governing Body have listened to the views of present and former students during the planning exercise and plan to continue to do so but our Strategic Agenda has to be based on the overall body of evidence about academic, financial and development issues.” She also stated that she felt Hilda’s needed to evolve. “We need to remain a centre of academic excellence, openness and diversity,” she said. The last JCR referendum on this issue, held in 2003, resulted in a 57% majority vote for maintaining the single-sex status. This time, while there appears to be a general consensus that the SCR should become mixed, the future of the student body remains controversial and unpredictable.
23rd Feb 2006